Metal fire block



B. E. HAMILTON.

METAL FIRE BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1 3I I920.

lflcmfiwu Patented Apr. III, 1922.

' INVENTOR. BERN/CE E. HAMILTON I ATTORNEY.

nnmtrcn E. HAIVIILTON, or inmanaroms, INDIANA.

METAL FIRE BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. llll, 11.922

' Application filed September 13, 1920, Serial No. 409,990."

and useful Improvements in Metal Fire Blocks, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates'to fire blocks and is preferably constructed ofsheet metal, the object being to provide a closure forthe space betweenthe studding and weather boarding and plastering of a building toprevent the space between these parts acting as a flue or draft openingin case of fire. The prime feature of the inventio nis in soconstructing the fire block that it may be adjusted longitudinally tocompletely close spaces of varying lengths, it frequently occurring thatthe studdings are placed at different distances apart.

A further feature of the invention is in providing means forinterlocking the adj listable sections together, so that the sectionswill always remain in a horizontal position, although they may beadjusted lengthwise.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means foranchoring the fire blocks to the faces of the studding, so that the fireblocks can be quickly and easily applied to use.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forthand pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanylng drawings which are made a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the fire blocks applied touse,

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the fire block, Figure 3 is a transversesectional view as seen on line 3-3, Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the fire block, and

Figure '5 is atop plan view of a slightly modified form of fire block.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates studdingwhich is of the usual form used in constructing frame buildings, 2indicates weather boarding, such as is placed on the outside of thestudding, and 3 indicates the plastering, such as isplaced on the innerface of the studding.

It has been the custom heretofore to form fire blocks of wood, such asparts of studding, or the like, and nail the same between the studdingto close the space between the plastering and weather boarding andprevent a draft therethrough; but, in the presentinstance the fire block4 is constructed preferably of sheet'metal and formed in two sections 5and 6, the section 5 having a channel 7 extended longitudinally thereoffor the reception of a rib 8, which is formed upon and extendslongitudinally of the section 6, the channel and rib being so shaped incross section that they will interlock with each other and hold the twosections of the fire block in proper alignment, and as the channel 7telescopically receives the rib 8 the sections 5 and 6 of the fire blockmay be adjusted longitudinally to adapt the same for the varyingdistances between the studding members. The ends 9 and 10 of thesections 5 and 6 are bent upwardly at substantially right angles to thefire block proper and fit against the adjacent faces of the studding,any suitable means being provided for securing said ends to thestudding, but preferably by forming brads 11 and 12, which brads arepreferably so cut from the end sections that they will each present apointed edge to the studding and may be readily driven into the studdingwhen a blow is delivered against the inner face of the end members. Thebrads 11 and 12 are formed by making an angular incision in the endmembers and bending outwardly the severed portions, thereby leaving thebrads integral with the end sections at one edge, consequently, whenthey are driven into the studding they will securely support the fireblock in position. The brads 11 and 12 also serve to hold the blocks 4against any lateral swinging movement.

The channel 7 and rib 8 not only provide means for holding the sections5 and 6 together,but as they are formed integrally with these sectionsby bending up parts of the sections, they form a very rigid structureand lOQ extend the full length of the sections, so that the ends 9 and10 will be reinforced,

In Figure 5 is shown a modified form of structure in which the "channeland rib are dispensed with and the edges of one of the manufactured andcan be quickly applied to use as it does not require any sawing to fitthe same, and but very little effort required to anchor the ends of thefire block to the studding, and as these fire blocks are made in sections they can be extended or contracted to fit between the studding ofvarying distances apart, and if the space is so small between thestudding that the sections when moved to their -shortest length arestill too long, the ends of the sections may be clipped off so as toshorten the structure.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A fire block comprising a pair of sections having angularly disposedends, interlocking reinforcing means on said sections formed by strikingup portions of said sections along their longitudinal centers, and meansintegral with said ends for anchoring the end members in operativeposition.

2. Means for closing the spa'cebetween the studding of a buildingcomprising a twopart metallic fire block, a longitudinally extendingchannel on one section and a co-operamarae ating rib on the othersection, said channel and rib being formed b striking up portions ofsaid sections said 0 annel and rib being substantially triangular shapedin cross sections and interlocking with each other and means foranchorin the outer ends of the sections to the stud mg.

3. A fire block for building structures comprising a pair of telescopingsections having their outer. ends extended at an angle, a longitudinallyextending channel on one of said members, a co-operating rib on theother member adapted to enter said-channel and telescopically connectthe two members, and brads struck from the end portions for anchorin theouter ends of the sections to parts of t e building structure.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 10th da of September, A. D. nineteen hundredan twenty.

BERNICE E. HAMILTON. [1,. s.]

